Electrical switch



Sept. 6, 1932! N. B. CHACE ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed April 22. 1931 Patented Sept. 6, 1932 a v UNITED 'srmTEs'; ear-Eur eel-non IB= 0F CIIlNATI, OHIO swir'cni 7 Ap lication flcdAiii-il 22,1931. Serial no. 531906."

Thisinvention relates-to an improved elecis shown associated with the motor shaft, a trical switch for automatically; breaking an worm 10 engaging aworm'wheel 11, thelat electric circuit toan electric motor or other ter havingassoc'iat'ed therewith a mngs electrically operated devioe, at a pnedeteb or piston rod 9; It will be' assume'd that the mined time or'upon predetermined operation member 9, upon successive actuations 'of"a"- of the electrically operated device; switch 12, is moved alternately tonthe posi- An object of the invention is to provide: tions shownby fulland broken lines- 13 'anda simple, compact and: durableswitch fertile 14, respectively; It is readily-"'apparentthat' purpose stated, the parts'thereofbeing read-' a given number of rotations of the-worm 10 ily accessible for replacement whennecessary: is required for effecting-r movement of the-'00 Another object is to provide an electrical member "9""from it s 1111 liheposition to the" switch of the abovecharacter that may be dotted *linepositionindicated: at :14. Inth'e operatively coupled directly or indirectly form of the switch shown in=the drawing,-the* with a moving partfof'a machinetobeconi arrangement of-parts is'sucIr'that-br'eaking ftrolled thereby. ofa circuit therethrough =is efi'ec'ted once in 66 Another objectais to provideanoveltype each one-half rotation of the-switch actuof quick break arrangement in a rotary= ating shaft 15; consequently, the switch may"? switch, whereby there is maintainedlawpolshave'its-shaft 15 directly coupled with the ishecl conductingsurfacefthe parts bei'ngar shaft 16 of the device-9 11, or ifdsired, the

* ranged to decrease arcing and excessive wearswitchactuating shaft may be associated with" ing of parts. a suitable geartrainl? designed to impart A further'objectis to: provide him 'devioe t0 theshaft' lfl a speed-equal to thet'of the of the character stated','means where!) ,iuponr shaft-16: p

breaking the electrical circuit'th'e switchair- F rom the foregoimgg', it should readily-be tomatically'conditions itselt fdr'furthersncj understood that upon'manual-ly erasin -thew:

cessive actuations. Thesexand other objects 1 motor circuit by means of thesw'itch =12,*'tlie" are attained by the-means describedzherein'f motor will be energized formovingthe gear: and disclosed in theaccompanyingxdmwing'; 11 -through ahaltrotation; at the en'd of in which: which predetermined movement "the' switch;

Figure 1 -.is an :elevational View showlngir which'is indicated general-lyby the character in simple fornnone of many application'sof- 18, will operate to breakv the motor circuit-3 h device'to Pr ical use. The arrangement shown inFigil is'suchthat- Figure 2 is a-cross-sectiionaL'viewtskenr' a repition of tlie'foregoing-operation'-*isse on line 2-2 of- Figure 1. cured by manually moving the switch contact" Fig e 3 1s c oss-sectional viQW taktn' 19 from'its osition in contact wi'th the term? '68 on line 33 of Figure I v nal 2O to a position contacting-the second- Flgure 4 1S a detail w'p 'y cross terminal 21 of the switch 12. Breaking "of F and showing cntact0r'and"m9unt the circuit is always automatically"eflected by ilj tp L the automatic switch 18.3 As stated before, i t fi g m gggg arrangements somewhat similar to that"of or a Fig. 1 may be employed for operating, many A l i theopemtlonof other devices, which require intermittent. ClQVLCO illustrated in Figure 1 should renderp p zilggalr the nature of theidevice oficthe'mvene h Switch p p r -p a or v.

Inthe example shown, 71indicates genen =hou$1ng n m r h; t g n an electrically, 0 s t m hm the base 23 of which extends the switch actu V shaft'S arranged tod i i ve any suimble-meche .atlng or camshaft 15. The shaft is suitably anism 9 which iszta be intermittently aetuw- Journaled Jn the base-and-is rotatable-'rela' 'b' t' ated. For the purpose of illustration, there tlvely thereto." Keyed OI'OthGI'WISB 'SGCIJI'Gd to the cam shaft is a cam indicated generally by 24.

The switch housing carries a plurality of contactors 25, 26 and 27, which are constantly spring urged toward the periphery of the a contact with the movable contactors.

cam, and each of which is electrically connected to electricity conducting wires, for example, the contactor may be electrically connected in series with the motor 7 by means of the conductor 28, which may constitute one of the line wires from a suitable source of electricity, not shown. The contactors 26 and 27 may have electrical connection with the terminals 20 and 21 of the manually operable switch 12, by means of the conductors 29 and 30, respectively. The movable contact 19 of said switch 12 is electrically connected to one of the line wires 31, and said contact may be selectively moved into engagement with the terminals 20 and 21, either manually or mechanically.

As indicated in Fig. 2, suitable means indicated by the character 32 may be provided for yieldingly urging the contactors into contacting relation with the periphery of the rotatable cam 24, said means may comprise plungers 33 yieldingly projected by means of compression springs 34 housed within a suitable adjustable casing 35. The invention, however,

is not to be limited to this form of means for urging the contactors into position on the cam.

The rotatable cam comprises, in its simplest form, two outer substantially parallel portions 34 and 35, hereinafter referred to as contact segment mountings, which may be of any suitable thickness, and held in spaced relation by a spacing means 36. The spacing means is of such dimensions as to render it free from The spacer, as well as the contact segment mounting means, preferably is of insulating material, and if desired, these three parts may be shaped from a single block of insulation.

1 Each of the members 34 and 35 has fixed thereon the contact segments 37 and 38 which preferably consist of parts of a true circular ring made of electricity conducting material, for example, brass or copper. Because of the shape of the segment mounting means, the

contactsegments are eccentric to the cam shaft 15. Opposite ends of the contact segments are unequally spaced from the axis of the cam shaft, and the end closest thereto will hereinafter be termed the heel of the contact segment, while the farthest removed end will be termed the toe thereof. Therefore, the heel and toe of the contact member 38 are respectively indicated at 39 and 40, whereas the heel and toe of the contact segment 37 are indicated respectively by 41 and 42. Each contact segment may be substantially a twothirds part of a true circular ring and each may be secured on the periphery of a segment mounting means which may be approximaterave-.133

ly three-fourths truly circular, the remaining one-fourth part being an are directed inwardly toward the drive shaft in order to provide the steps 44 and 45. The toe end of each contact segment is secured, and terminates, at its respective step. The peripheral or neutral portions 46, which are located between a toe and heel of each ring segment, is of insulating material.

The contactor 25, as shown in Fig. 3, is of sufiicient width to contact with either of the contact segments 37 and 38, but it will be noted that said contaetor can at no time simultaneously contact both of them because of the eccentric relation of the contact segments one to the other. This may be claritied by referring to Fig. 2 from which it will readily be apparent that any line drawn parallel with the axis of the cam may include one, but not both, of the contact segments. The steps 44 and 45, the toes, and the heels of the cam segments are located so as to be substantially diametrically opposite to one another, respectively. It should be noted also, that part of the heel of each cam segment extends past or beyond the toe of the other cam segment, and this ma be termed an overlapping, though the iieels and toes of the cam segments are not in the same plane.

The contactor 26 always follows the periphery of the segment 37 and its mounting means, while the contactor 27 follows the periphery of the segment 38 and its mounting means 34. As shown in the drawing, the contactor 27 is engaging the neutral portion 46. whence, upon further rotation of the cam said contactor will ascend the heel 39 of the segment 38. The circuit cutofi's, however, occur at the step offs rather than at the neutral portions 46, as will be explained in the operation of the device, which follows.

In Figs. 4 and 5 are illustrated the single contactors 26 and 27 and the studs or pivots 47 upon which they are pivotally mounted. One end of each stud may be threaded as indicated at 48 for the reception of nuts or fasteners 49 whereby electrical connection may be made with the conductors 29 and 30. The stud 50 which provides a pivotal mounting for the contactor 25 is similar to those indicated at 47. The switch housing may be provided with a flange or other suitable means for mounting of the switch upon a support.

The operation of the device is as follows. Reference is made to Fig. 2 which shows the relative positions of the parts as they are found during operation of the motor 7. The wide or double contaetor 25 is seen to be in contacting relation with the conductor segment 37, while the contactor 26 is resting upon, and making electrical contact with, the same segment 37. The current flow, therefore. is through the circuit comprising the conductors 31, 19, 29, 26, 37, 25, 28 and 61,

which includes the motor 7 and which motor is now rotating the cam-shaft'15 and the cam 24 in the direction of rotation indicated. When the step 45 reaches and then passes the contactor 25, thereby permitting it to drop and break contact with the segment 37, the above circuit immediately becomes broken at 25, for the reason that the contactor 25 at that time is on one segment 38 whereas the contactor 26 is on the other segment 37, these segments being electrically insulated from one another. By the time the contactor 25 has dropped down onto segment 38, the contactor 27 will have climbed onto the heel 39 of segment 38 also, due to rotation of the cam. It will be apparent, therefore, that to restart the motor 7 it is necessary only to pass current through the contactors 27 and 25 and segment 38. This is accomplished by simply throwing the movable switch contact 19 into contact with the terminal 21, thereby completing the circuit through conductors 31, 19, 30, 27, 38, 25, 28 and 61, which includes the motor 7. This circuit will become broken as soon as the contactor 25 leaves the toe 40 of segment 38, at the step-ofl' 44, thereby again stopping the motor. The contactor 26 will have, by that time, reached the heel 41 of the segment 37 on which the contactor 25 is then resting. Upon again throwing the switch arm 19, the motor will again be energized and the parts will assume the relative positions indicated in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the motor 7 is automatically stopped at approximately each half rotation of the cam 24 and it should be understood that the speed of cam rotation may be varied, whereby various automatic circuit cut oil problems can be solved. The device may be modified for controlling more than one circuit, by adding thereto cams and contactors, and provision may be made for controlling the current of a three wire system of electrical power transmission.

It is to be understood, therefore, that various modifications and changes in structural details of the device may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A rotary electrical contact member for an electrical control switch comprising a plurality of insulated similar electricity conducti ng segments at least two of which are greator than a half circle in peripheral extent, the segments being eccentric to the axis of rotation of the rotary contact member and having separated toe and heel portions overlapping but at different distances from the axis of rotation of the rotary contact member.

2. In a device of the class described the combination of a rotatable member including two spaced curved electricity conducting segments and three electricity conducting conher: and providing; step offs whereby an-electrical cirouit'may 'beibroken and another electrlcal circuit be. closed, the electrieityy conducting contactormea-ns beingyieldingly urged toward the segments and o contactor means is-sufliciently wide. to ride upon botlr e ofzwhichsegments. in succession and: the:

others. of which'ride respectively upon the segments'du-ring rotation. of the-rotatable mean-s, rotation of. the. rotatable. means serv ing to :move the step offs past that contactor means which. rides successively upon both segments;

3.111 adevice of theclass describedihecombination of. a, rotatable member. includingtwo spaced curved electricity conducting,-

seglmn ts and three electricity conducting;

contactor means associated. therewith, said segments being greater th'an a halfcircle in length-and insu lated.from.,oneanother anddisposed within parallel planes eccentrically. to the axis ofrrotatlon ot-the rotatable mem.

berand providing step otfswhereby an elec--- trical-circuit may be. broken and. another electrical circuitmay be closed;the electricity conducti contactormeans being yieldingly, urgedatoward the. segments and one of. which contactor means is sufficiently. wide to ride upon both others of which ride respectively upon the segments during rotationof the rotatable. means, rotation of the rotatable means serve ingto. move thestep. offs-past that1 contactor means WhlChnIldGS successively upon both segments,

4. In a device ofth'e'class described the combination of a rotatable memberincluding two spaced curved electricity conducting segments and'three electricity conducting con-. tactorrmeans associated therewith, said 86g? ments being offtrue, circular arc formation greater than a half circle in length and insulatedfrom one another and'di'sposed within parallel planes eccentrically to the axis of rotation of the rotatable member-and provid ing step ofis whereby an electrical circuit may be broken and another electrical circuit may be closed, the electricity conducting contactor means being yieldi'ngly urged toward the segments and Tone of which contactor means is .sufiiciently wide: to ride upon both segments in succession and the others of which segments in succession and. the

ride respectively upon the segments during rotation of thev rotatable means, rotation of the rotatable means serving to move thexstep ofi's past: that contactor. means which rides successively upon both segments.

5. A rotary electrical switch unit having in combination a rotary electrical contact member comprising a plurality of insulated similar electricity conducting segments at least two of which are greater than a half circle in peripheral extent, the segments being eccentric to the axis of rotation of the V rotary contact member and having separated toeand heel portions overlapping but at different distances from the axis of rotation of the rotary contact member, a plurality of electricity contactor means yieldingly urged toward the segments and exceeding the segments in number, one of said yieldingly urged contactor means being sufliciently wide to engage two of the segments and arranged to contact said two segments in succession.

6. A rotary electrical switch unit having in 1a combination a rotary electrical contact member comprising a plurality of insulated similar electricity conducting segments both of which are greater than a halt circle in pe- ,.;'ipheral extent, the segments being eccentric 2 'to the axis of rotation of the rotary contact member and having separated toe and heel portions overlapping but at different distances from the axis of rotation of the rotary rrontact member, a plurality of electricity contactor means yieldingly urged toward the segments and exceeding the segments in number, one of said yieldingly urged contactor means being sufliciently wide to engage two of the ..se 'ments and arranged to contact said two 30 segments in succession and mounting means for the cont actor means arranged in a circle arc about and spaced from the periphery of the rotary member. 7. in a device of the class described the combination of a rotatable member including two spaced curred electricity conducting segments and three electricity conducting contactor means associated therewith, said seg- -ments being insulated from one another and 40 disposed within parallel planes eccentrically to the axis of rotation of the rotatable member and providing step ofis whereby an electrical circuit may be broken and another electrical circuit may be closed, the electricity conductin contactor means being yieldingly urged toward the segments and one of which cont-actor means is suiiiciently wide to ride upon both segments in succession and the FF {others of which ride respectively upon the segments during rotation of the rotatable means, rotation of the rotatable means serving to move the step olis past that contactor means which rides successively upon both segments and mounting means for the contactor means arranged in a circle are about and spaced from the periphery of the rotary memher.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 18th day of April, 1931.

NORMAN B. CHACE. 

